2012 - 2013 Ice Hockey Preview
The Geneseo Ice Knights enter the 2012-13 season with an influx of new blood to combine with the returning veterans for seventh year coach Chris Schultz (Geneseo '97). The Ice Knights finished last season with a record of 13-12-1 and a fourth place mark of 7-8-1 in SUNYAC. Geneseo was eliminated by Fredonia in the first round of the SUNYAC tournament as the Ice Knights suffered through an injury-plagued season that saw more than 100 "man-games" missed. Schultz will need the newcomers to play immediately as Geneseo graduated eight.
Junior right wing Zachary Vit (Villanova, Pa./Green Mountain Glades) returns after leading Geneseo with 31 points on 12 goals and 19 assists on his way to third team All-SUNYAC and could reunite with senior center Corbin Rosmarin (Clifton Park/Northern Cyclones), who had nine goals and nine assists in 2012 and junior Rich Manley (Buffalo/Coquitlam Express), who scored 11 points in only 18 games.
Junior Carson Schell (Saskatoon, SASK/Nanaimo Clippers) returns to the forward unit after scoring 15 points on eight goals and seven assists and leading the Ice Knights with 20 penalties. The hard-hitting centerman may be paired with workhorse wingers such as senior Ryan Bulach (Kelowna, BC/Trail Smoke Eaters), who had 14 points last year and sophomore Zach Martin (Point Clair, QC/Nanaimo Clippers), who netted six points in 15 games in his rookie campaign.
Geneseo's other veteran forwards include senior Kaz Iwamoto (Tomakomai, JAPAN/Wyoming Seminary), who had 13 points in 2012, juniors Jonathan Sucese (Fairport/Northfield Mount Hermon), Nick Ryan (Rochester/Buffalo Jr. Sabres) and Garry Childerhose (Altona, MB/Melfort Mustangs), who all missed time due to injury in 2012, and sophomores Zach Cavallini (St. Louis, Mo./Capital District Selects) and Justin Scharfe (Webster/Bridgewater Bandits), who scored nine points in his first season.
Schultz has six new forwards that will compete immediately for playing time, including sophomore Tyler Brickler (Riverwoods, Ill./UMass-Lowell), who played 11 games last season at Division I UMass-Lowell before transferring to Geneseo. First year Brent Bisdee (Manotick, ONT/Kanata Stallions) is a speedy forward who will bring energy to his play, while David Ripple (Winter Springs, Fla./Coulee Region) and Ryan Donnelly (Stittsville, ONT/Kanata Stallions) are power forwards. First year Devon Rice (Manitock, ONT/Ottawa Jr. Senators) is a capable two-way forward and classmate AJ Sgaraglio (Hicksville/NY Bobcats) was a natural goal scorer in juniors.
Seniors Colin de Jersey (West Vancouver, BC/Burnaby Express), Blake O'Connor (Phoenix, Ariz./Bay State Breakers) and Brandon Angotti (Stamford, Conn./Springfield Falcons) return to head the defensive unit, which includes speedy sophomore Jack Caradonna (Markham, ONT/Stouffville Spirit) and junior Ryan Goldberg (Toronto, ONT/Markham Waxers).
Schultz expects first years Nate Brown (Bethel Park, Pa./Bay State Breakers) and Alex Lubczuk (Kitchener, ONT/Georgetown Raiders) to play immediately as each is strong at both ends of the ice. First years Matthew Hutchinson (North Vancouver, BC/Chilliwack Chiefs), a strong, physical shutdown defenseman and Dennis Playfair (Buffalo/Buffalo Jr. Sabres) will compete for playing time.
Senior Adrian Rubeniuk (Grandview, MB/Dauphin Kings) returns between the pipes for Geneseo after posting a stellar 2.64 goals against and a .908 save percentage in playing 658 minutes in a timeshare with the graduated Cory Gershon. First year Nick Horrigan (Mount Forest, ONT/Elmira Sugar Kings) and sophomore Bryan Haude (Hilton/Hartford Wolfpack) will challenge Rubeniuk for the top spot.
The Ice Knights open their season on Thursday, October 18 when they travel to first year program Nazareth College, with the home opener coming two days later when the Golden Flyers visit the Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena at 4 p.m.